14 DAY TRIAL // Throughout this year Crysis 2 set the benchmark for graphics, but everything changed once Battlefield 3 appeared in October, when it was released by DICE, powered by the all-new Frostbite 2 engine.
While we got to check out quite a lot of videos of the game made on all three platforms, PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which showed off some impressive gameplay from the shooter, nothing could prepare us for the sheer visual delight delivered by the game.
While Battlefield 3 mostly focuses on urban warfare, showing battles throughout the Middle East, the engine still manages to impress, even while churning out grey buildings or brown desert environments. Things get even better when you move to European cities like Paris, where sharper colors appear from time to time, with one building in particular reminding of the visual design seen in the older Mirror’s Edge title.
Another impressive aspect is the fact that the engine manages to retain most of its quality while going from the PC to consoles like the PS3 or Xbox 360, still delivering great experiences that definitely push the platforms to their limits, even if it sacrificed their framerate, lowering it to 30fps, as opposed to rivals like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which still has a 60fps rate.
The engine has also proven itself with the recent Need for Speed: The Run racing game, where it managed to deliver another solid and visually pleasing experience, even if it had a few kinks like with missing objects or blurry textures. It’s now scheduled to power other projects, including Command & Conquer: Generals 2, so just imagine the other types of experiences Frostbite 2 could deliver, given enough time.
Still, as of yet, Battlefield 3 is where Frostbite 2 shines, making it the most beautiful game of the year in terms of graphics, no matter the platform. Don’t believe us? Have a look at a video of it in action below.
